Warlord’s Return And Finishing A First Draft
I finished the first draft of Warlord’s Return (releasing in November) yesterday. Woot!
It is a steaming piece of sh*t as all of my first drafts are but the bones of the story are solid, the couple (Ariq and a heroine you haven’t yet met) is magical together, and I believe you’ll really like this 6th and final installment of the Chamele Barbarian Warlords series. We return to the Refuge, the home of Kralj, so we interact not only with the Chameles but also with the modified humanoids (the flying triplets are physically grown and are causing chaos).
Completing a first draft is a time for celebration in the Sax household. Heck, any win at all is a time for celebration and completing a first draft is a HUGE win. As Jodi Picoult says, “You can always edit a bad page. You can’t edit a blank page.” And as my awesome editor once told me, I have to write the first draft. She can’t help me with that. She CAN help me with everything else.
Even if the first draft sucks big hairy donkey balls, it is an achievement. It gives writers and editors something to work with and that is a very good place to be. Celebrate those first drafts.
If my schedule allows it (laughs semi-hysterically), I set aside a first draft for a day or two, give myself some space, some distance from it, before rolling into the extremely intense second draft. I tend to continue thinking about the story and jot down ideas, solutions to plot holes, etc to include when I pick it back up again.
The timing of this completed first draft is great because Testing Truth (releasing in September) has returned from my awesome editor. I’ll work on that today and this weekend.
Then on Monday, I’ll start the second draft.
***
Subscribe To My Monthly Newsletter: http://tasteofcyn.com/2014/05/28/newsletter/
Other Chameles view him as the enemy.
She sees the warrior hero he never believed he could be.
* * *
Tolui is a Warlord in search of a planet to rule. He has been leading his fellow clones in a stealth battle, fighting for both control of the Chamele sector and the right to exist. The brave warriors he commands warrant respect, and they deserve the best.
That best isn’t the barren, dangerous terrain on Chamele 4. When Tolui crashes on that planet’s surface, he’s determined to leave it as soon as possible. The tiny human female rescuing him might be as beautiful and as wild as the land she inhabits, but her flowing words, trusting gaze, and enthralling submission won’t stop him from rejoining the war.
After many solar cycles of living alone, Lea is overjoyed when a tall, scarred, muscular warrior falls from the sky. Her savage stranger is strong and severe, and he makes her feel safe, an emotion she hasn’t experienced in a long, long time.
He also insists they must part. Before they do, she’ll show him the splendor of her home, and she’ll enjoy his big form, collecting passionate moments she can revisit when she’s solitary once more.
Every additional moment Lea and Tolui spend together increases the chance they’ll both die. Lea is being chased by female-hating fiends. Tolui is being hunted by the best bounty hunters in the universe. War will soon arrive on their threshold, and the blood spilled might be their own.
* * *
Warlord’s Mercy is based on a much shorter story sharing the same title.
It is a STANDALONE Alien Barbarian SciFi Romance featuring a villain turned hero and a brave, chatty heroine set in a dark, gritty, sometimes-violent universe.
Warlord’s Mercy is the fifth of six core stories in the Chamele Barbarian Warlord series.
Book 1: Warlord Sky
Book 2: Warlord’s Bounty
Book 3: Warlord Unarmed
Book 4: Warlord Reunited
Book 5: Warlord’s Mercy
Book 6: Warlord’s Return
Buy Now:
Amazon US:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0886K65F9
Amazon UK:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0886K65F9
Amazon AUS:
https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0886K65F9
Apple Books:
https://books.apple.com/us/book/warlords-mercy/id1511995733
B&N:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/warlords-mercy-cynthia-sax/1116524052
Kobo:
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/warlord-s-mercy-1
SmashWords:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1020349
Topics: Coming Soon, Writing Tips | Comments Off on Warlord’s Return And Finishing A First Draft
Cynthia Sax Weekly Update – July 12th
My Facebook account is still under review. I don’t think humans are actually working in their customer service anymore and the bots don’t know what to do with my situation. (sheepish grin)
The cyborgs aren’t being helpful at all. They like that I have more time to spend with them. Hoarse is demanding his story. He isn’t telling me what his story is about but he wants it written. Now. (eye rolls) This is what I’m dealing with, my friends. (laughs)
Testing Truth, the next cyborg romance (releasing September 15th) is still with my awesome editor. She’s looking at it for the second time.
I’m completing the first draft of Warlord’s Return (releasing in November) this week. I have three more chapters to write. Thus far, the hero (Ariq) and the heroine are still alive. (grins) Woot! I consider that to be a win!
I’m revising a short story today. As I mentioned last week, I might not publish it but it will be closer to that stage after this weekend. The short stories are muse cleansers and they’re fun. They keep me in the zone as I take a break from the fresh writing.
I had a great idea for a very different story this weekend. I jotted it down and sent it to my agent. She will give me some insights into whether or not anyone would be interested in reading it. It needs to be published through a large publisher to work.
That’s one of the issues with having been kicked off Facebook—I have TOO many great ideas now. My brain is buzzing with them. That is both an awesome upside and a challenge as I only have so much time to write. (big happy sigh)
***
Subscribe To My Monthly Newsletter: http://tasteofcyn.com/2014/05/28/newsletter/
Other Chameles view him as the enemy.
She sees the warrior hero he never believed he could be.
* * *
Tolui is a Warlord in search of a planet to rule. He has been leading his fellow clones in a stealth battle, fighting for both control of the Chamele sector and the right to exist. The brave warriors he commands warrant respect, and they deserve the best.
That best isn’t the barren, dangerous terrain on Chamele 4. When Tolui crashes on that planet’s surface, he’s determined to leave it as soon as possible. The tiny human female rescuing him might be as beautiful and as wild as the land she inhabits, but her flowing words, trusting gaze, and enthralling submission won’t stop him from rejoining the war.
After many solar cycles of living alone, Lea is overjoyed when a tall, scarred, muscular warrior falls from the sky. Her savage stranger is strong and severe, and he makes her feel safe, an emotion she hasn’t experienced in a long, long time.
He also insists they must part. Before they do, she’ll show him the splendor of her home, and she’ll enjoy his big form, collecting passionate moments she can revisit when she’s solitary once more.
Every additional moment Lea and Tolui spend together increases the chance they’ll both die. Lea is being chased by female-hating fiends. Tolui is being hunted by the best bounty hunters in the universe. War will soon arrive on their threshold, and the blood spilled might be their own.
* * *
Warlord’s Mercy is based on a much shorter story sharing the same title.
It is a STANDALONE Alien Barbarian SciFi Romance featuring a villain turned hero and a brave, chatty heroine set in a dark, gritty, sometimes-violent universe.
Warlord’s Mercy is the fifth of six core stories in the Chamele Barbarian Warlord series.
Book 1: Warlord Sky
Book 2: Warlord’s Bounty
Book 3: Warlord Unarmed
Book 4: Warlord Reunited
Book 5: Warlord’s Mercy
Book 6: Warlord’s Return
Buy Now:
Amazon US:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0886K65F9
Amazon UK:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0886K65F9
Amazon AUS:
https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0886K65F9
Apple Books:
https://books.apple.com/us/book/warlords-mercy/id1511995733
B&N:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/warlords-mercy-cynthia-sax/1116524052
Kobo:
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/warlord-s-mercy-1
SmashWords:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1020349
Topics: Cynthia Sax Weekly Update | Comments Off on Cynthia Sax Weekly Update – July 12th
Warlord’s Return – Cover Reveal
I have a cover for Warlord’s Return! Woot!
Warlord’s Return, the 6th and final story in the Chamele Barbarian Warlords series, will be releasing in November 2020.
I don’t yet have pre-order links or a blurb or even a completed first draft (the first draft should be completed by end of day on Wednesday) but I wanted to show you the gorgeous cover.
It was crafted by the always awesome Amanda Kelsey from Razzle Dazzle Design !
***
Subscribe To My Monthly Newsletter: http://tasteofcyn.com/2014/05/28/newsletter/
Other Chameles view him as the enemy.
She sees the warrior hero he never believed he could be.
* * *
Tolui is a Warlord in search of a planet to rule. He has been leading his fellow clones in a stealth battle, fighting for both control of the Chamele sector and the right to exist. The brave warriors he commands warrant respect, and they deserve the best.
That best isn’t the barren, dangerous terrain on Chamele 4. When Tolui crashes on that planet’s surface, he’s determined to leave it as soon as possible. The tiny human female rescuing him might be as beautiful and as wild as the land she inhabits, but her flowing words, trusting gaze, and enthralling submission won’t stop him from rejoining the war.
After many solar cycles of living alone, Lea is overjoyed when a tall, scarred, muscular warrior falls from the sky. Her savage stranger is strong and severe, and he makes her feel safe, an emotion she hasn’t experienced in a long, long time.
He also insists they must part. Before they do, she’ll show him the splendor of her home, and she’ll enjoy his big form, collecting passionate moments she can revisit when she’s solitary once more.
Every additional moment Lea and Tolui spend together increases the chance they’ll both die. Lea is being chased by female-hating fiends. Tolui is being hunted by the best bounty hunters in the universe. War will soon arrive on their threshold, and the blood spilled might be their own.
* * *
Warlord’s Mercy is based on a much shorter story sharing the same title.
It is a STANDALONE Alien Barbarian SciFi Romance featuring a villain turned hero and a brave, chatty heroine set in a dark, gritty, sometimes-violent universe.
Warlord’s Mercy is the fifth of six core stories in the Chamele Barbarian Warlord series.
Book 1: Warlord Sky
Book 2: Warlord’s Bounty
Book 3: Warlord Unarmed
Book 4: Warlord Reunited
Book 5: Warlord’s Mercy
Book 6: Warlord’s Return
Buy Now:
Amazon US:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0886K65F9
Amazon UK:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0886K65F9
Amazon AUS:
https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0886K65F9
Apple Books:
https://books.apple.com/us/book/warlords-mercy/id1511995733
B&N:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/warlords-mercy-cynthia-sax/1116524052
Kobo:
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/warlord-s-mercy-1
SmashWords:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1020349
Topics: Cover Reveal | Comments Off on Warlord’s Return – Cover Reveal
Cynthia Sax Upcoming Stories
It is midway through the year, a great time to reveal the stories I have planned.
Testing Truth – September 15, 2020
Truth’s story will be the next one to release. It has been loaded at booksellers and is available for pre-orders. I suspect you’ll love this story. It is my editor’s favorite in the Cyborg Space Exploration series. Truth is a hoot and his female matches him for drama and excitement.
One of the questions I often receive is – Why not release this story immediately?
Because it hasn’t been completely edited. The first high level round of edits has been completed. This stage tells me whether or not the story works. It might need deep revisions. If that is the case, it could take a month or longer to get the story to the working point. Or it might have to be scrapped completely. That happens.
Thankfully, Testing Truth works as a story. I’m confident it will be ready for September 15th but it is unlikely to be ready much earlier than that.
Testing Truth is the final core story in the Cyborg Space Exploration portion of the longer Cyborg Romance series.
Warlord’s Return – November 2020
I’m 10 chapters into the 18 chapter first draft of Warlord’s Return, the 6th and final story in the Chamele Barbarian Warlords series. I’m loving it. Ariq and his gerel are magical together. I think the story works but my editor will confirm (likely in August) if I’m right.
Holding Hoarse – December 2020
Hoarse’s romance will be the free short story this year, my thank you to you and other reading buddies. (big hugs) We first met Hoarse in Passion Surge. He is the ulu-making, offspring-loving C Model and he definitely deserves love.
Containing Malice – February 2021
Under Strain – May 2021
Baring Grudge – August 2021
B Free – November 2021
Seizing Power – February 2022
I usually release a cyborg romance every four months. I know reading buddies are impatient for Power’s story so in 2021, I will be releasing a cyborg romance every three months.
These cyborgs (with the exception of Power) were left behind during the cyborg mass rebellion. Many of them are damaged. ALL of them are angry and emotionally battered. They have a tendency to be violent but also retain…barely…the capacity for love.
They remind me of Rage, of how he was during most of his story.
There will likely be a freebie short story in 2021 also but I don’t know what the title will be (I suspect it will be Relay’s story. I can’t leave him without a female after Surge and Hoarse have found theirs.).
We have MANY stories to look forward to reading. (grins) I am certainly looking forward to writing them.
***
Subscribe To My Monthly Newsletter: http://tasteofcyn.com/2014/05/28/newsletter/
Other Chameles view him as the enemy.
She sees the warrior hero he never believed he could be.
* * *
Tolui is a Warlord in search of a planet to rule. He has been leading his fellow clones in a stealth battle, fighting for both control of the Chamele sector and the right to exist. The brave warriors he commands warrant respect, and they deserve the best.
That best isn’t the barren, dangerous terrain on Chamele 4. When Tolui crashes on that planet’s surface, he’s determined to leave it as soon as possible. The tiny human female rescuing him might be as beautiful and as wild as the land she inhabits, but her flowing words, trusting gaze, and enthralling submission won’t stop him from rejoining the war.
After many solar cycles of living alone, Lea is overjoyed when a tall, scarred, muscular warrior falls from the sky. Her savage stranger is strong and severe, and he makes her feel safe, an emotion she hasn’t experienced in a long, long time.
He also insists they must part. Before they do, she’ll show him the splendor of her home, and she’ll enjoy his big form, collecting passionate moments she can revisit when she’s solitary once more.
Every additional moment Lea and Tolui spend together increases the chance they’ll both die. Lea is being chased by female-hating fiends. Tolui is being hunted by the best bounty hunters in the universe. War will soon arrive on their threshold, and the blood spilled might be their own.
* * *
Warlord’s Mercy is based on a much shorter story sharing the same title.
It is a STANDALONE Alien Barbarian SciFi Romance featuring a villain turned hero and a brave, chatty heroine set in a dark, gritty, sometimes-violent universe.
Warlord’s Mercy is the fifth of six core stories in the Chamele Barbarian Warlord series.
Book 1: Warlord Sky
Book 2: Warlord’s Bounty
Book 3: Warlord Unarmed
Book 4: Warlord Reunited
Book 5: Warlord’s Mercy
Book 6: Warlord’s Return
Buy Now:
Amazon US:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0886K65F9
Amazon UK:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0886K65F9
Amazon AUS:
https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0886K65F9
Apple Books:
https://books.apple.com/us/book/warlords-mercy/id1511995733
B&N:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/warlords-mercy-cynthia-sax/1116524052
Kobo:
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/warlord-s-mercy-1
SmashWords:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1020349
Topics: Coming Soon | Comments Off on Cynthia Sax Upcoming Stories
Cynthia Sax Weekly Update – July 5th
My Facebook account is still under review. (big sigh) I didn’t expect it to be approved this week, not with the holiday. Customer service folks (if there ARE customer service folks actually working at Facebook) deserve time off too. I completely understand that.
I have completed the first 10 chapters of the first draft of Warlord’s Return (releasing in November). I love this story so fraggin’ much. (grins) Ariq and his gerel are magical together. It has been a joy to write, my escape from the universe.
This week, I’m writing the next 5 chapters in Warlord’s Return. There will be 18 chapters (at least) so I won’t be finishing the first draft this week but I’ll be getting close to completing it! Woot!
As many of you know, I write short stories (15,000 words or 60 pages long) between longer releases. I write these for myself, as muse pleasers, for pure fun. I love many of these stories and am thinking about gathering them into bundles.
Because I think some short story loving reading buddies might love them also.
For writing buddies, I doubt this will be a money-making venture. Short stories don’t tend to sell well. If enough readers read them to offset the cost of the cover, I would be surprised and super happy.
And I’m at the thinking about it stage. I might not do anything with these short stories.
Note: The December free stories will definitely still be happening. I already have the cover (from the always awesome Amanda Kelsey from Razzle Dazzle Design) for Holding Hoarse, this year’s freebie. I don’t yet have an idea for the story but I have an image to go with it. (grins)
***
Subscribe To My Monthly Newsletter: http://tasteofcyn.com/2014/05/28/newsletter/
Other Chameles view him as the enemy.
She sees the warrior hero he never believed he could be.
* * *
Tolui is a Warlord in search of a planet to rule. He has been leading his fellow clones in a stealth battle, fighting for both control of the Chamele sector and the right to exist. The brave warriors he commands warrant respect, and they deserve the best.
That best isn’t the barren, dangerous terrain on Chamele 4. When Tolui crashes on that planet’s surface, he’s determined to leave it as soon as possible. The tiny human female rescuing him might be as beautiful and as wild as the land she inhabits, but her flowing words, trusting gaze, and enthralling submission won’t stop him from rejoining the war.
After many solar cycles of living alone, Lea is overjoyed when a tall, scarred, muscular warrior falls from the sky. Her savage stranger is strong and severe, and he makes her feel safe, an emotion she hasn’t experienced in a long, long time.
He also insists they must part. Before they do, she’ll show him the splendor of her home, and she’ll enjoy his big form, collecting passionate moments she can revisit when she’s solitary once more.
Every additional moment Lea and Tolui spend together increases the chance they’ll both die. Lea is being chased by female-hating fiends. Tolui is being hunted by the best bounty hunters in the universe. War will soon arrive on their threshold, and the blood spilled might be their own.
* * *
Warlord’s Mercy is based on a much shorter story sharing the same title.
It is a STANDALONE Alien Barbarian SciFi Romance featuring a villain turned hero and a brave, chatty heroine set in a dark, gritty, sometimes-violent universe.
Warlord’s Mercy is the fifth of six core stories in the Chamele Barbarian Warlord series.
Book 1: Warlord Sky
Book 2: Warlord’s Bounty
Book 3: Warlord Unarmed
Book 4: Warlord Reunited
Book 5: Warlord’s Mercy
Book 6: Warlord’s Return
Buy Now:
Amazon US:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0886K65F9
Amazon UK:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0886K65F9
Amazon AUS:
https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0886K65F9
Apple Books:
https://books.apple.com/us/book/warlords-mercy/id1511995733
B&N:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/warlords-mercy-cynthia-sax/1116524052
Kobo:
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/warlord-s-mercy-1
SmashWords:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1020349
Topics: Cynthia Sax Weekly Update | Comments Off on Cynthia Sax Weekly Update – July 5th
Extinction And Making Viewers Uneasy
The Dear Wonderful Hubby and I recently watched the Netflix SciFi movie Extinction.
I almost didn’t stick with this movie. Yes, there were awesome explosions and great invasion scenes but when I watched the main characters, I was uncomfortable.
Everything was a bit…off. The timing of their responses was slightly delayed. The emotions weren’t quite right. The kids seemed determined to put themselves in the most vulnerable positions possible, having to be saved by the parents again and again.
What I believed were annoying ticks or instances of surprisingly bad acting were, in reality, brilliant storytelling decisions. I was supposed to feel that way. I was meant to pick up on all of that.
Those small irritations were all, as I call them, breadcrumbs. The uneasiness I felt was gifted foreshadowing, something I aspire to in my own stories.
I love dropping clues about the big plot twist, giving reading buddies who pay close attention the opportunity to guess what comes next. I love when reading buddies re-read a story to pick up hints they might not have noticed during the first read. That makes me happy.
Does every reader ‘get’ what I am trying to do? No. Does every attempt I make to do this work? Again, no. And it didn’t work for all viewers of Extinction. That’s why there are so many bad reviews for this movie.
But when it works for a reader, for a viewer…stars, it is magical.
(Also, I LOVED that Lizzy Caplan was one of the stars in this movie. I loved her in Cloverfield and the subconscious coupling with that movie made Extinction even more enjoyable for me. It helped guide me in the absolute wrong direction. – grins)
***
Subscribe To My Monthly Newsletter: http://tasteofcyn.com/2014/05/28/newsletter/
Other Chameles view him as the enemy.
She sees the warrior hero he never believed he could be.
* * *
Tolui is a Warlord in search of a planet to rule. He has been leading his fellow clones in a stealth battle, fighting for both control of the Chamele sector and the right to exist. The brave warriors he commands warrant respect, and they deserve the best.
That best isn’t the barren, dangerous terrain on Chamele 4. When Tolui crashes on that planet’s surface, he’s determined to leave it as soon as possible. The tiny human female rescuing him might be as beautiful and as wild as the land she inhabits, but her flowing words, trusting gaze, and enthralling submission won’t stop him from rejoining the war.
After many solar cycles of living alone, Lea is overjoyed when a tall, scarred, muscular warrior falls from the sky. Her savage stranger is strong and severe, and he makes her feel safe, an emotion she hasn’t experienced in a long, long time.
He also insists they must part. Before they do, she’ll show him the splendor of her home, and she’ll enjoy his big form, collecting passionate moments she can revisit when she’s solitary once more.
Every additional moment Lea and Tolui spend together increases the chance they’ll both die. Lea is being chased by female-hating fiends. Tolui is being hunted by the best bounty hunters in the universe. War will soon arrive on their threshold, and the blood spilled might be their own.
* * *
Warlord’s Mercy is based on a much shorter story sharing the same title.
It is a STANDALONE Alien Barbarian SciFi Romance featuring a villain turned hero and a brave, chatty heroine set in a dark, gritty, sometimes-violent universe.
Warlord’s Mercy is the fifth of six core stories in the Chamele Barbarian Warlord series.
Book 1: Warlord Sky
Book 2: Warlord’s Bounty
Book 3: Warlord Unarmed
Book 4: Warlord Reunited
Book 5: Warlord’s Mercy
Book 6: Warlord’s Return
Buy Now:
Amazon US:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0886K65F9
Amazon UK:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0886K65F9
Amazon AUS:
https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0886K65F9
Apple Books:
https://books.apple.com/us/book/warlords-mercy/id1511995733
B&N:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/warlords-mercy-cynthia-sax/1116524052
Kobo:
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/warlord-s-mercy-1
SmashWords:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1020349
Topics: Movie Reviews | Comments Off on Extinction And Making Viewers Uneasy
KU, Libraries, Smashwords And Sales
I’m often asked why I don’t have my stories in KU. There are a number of reasons for that decision but the key one is…
I love libraries.
I grew up dirt poor. We didn’t eat every day. That was how poor we were. But we lived in Canada and access to the library was free. I’d walk into the library with my library card, leave with as many books as my little arms could carry and feel like the wealthiest person in the universe. I read entire libraries out, reading everything from small engine repair to thick research books on crows.
I want other people to have that experience. And I want my eBooks to be available to everyone.
KU doesn’t allow books in their program to be available at libraries. KU also costs money for readers to use.
Public libraries usually don’t cost money for readers to use. If things get tight, I want you to ALWAYS be able to read my stories. Why should you miss out on my next release simply because you’re a little short on cash?
So I list my eBooks at public libraries.
If my eBooks aren’t available at your public library, ask the awesome librarians there to order them. If your library doesn’t have the budget for my stories, let me know and I’ll work with them.
By asking for my eBooks at your local library, you’re leaving a legacy of sorts. Those eBooks should be available for other library patrons…forever. And that will be because of you. YOU will have accomplished that feat.
That’s all sorts of awesome, isn’t it?
If you prefer to own your eBooks (If you borrow books in KU, you don’t own them. Once you return them, there’s a chance they’ll be delisted and you’ll never be able to read them again.) and you’re on a strict budget, Smashwords is often the best place to buy my eBooks on sale.
There is a sale happening right now on all of my eBooks – https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/CynthiaSax .
You can find your specific format at Smashwords. Mobi is best for your Kindles. ePub is great for your Apple devices, your Nooks, your Kobo readers.
Smashwords has personal libraries so you have another off device storage place for the eBooks you buy there. If an eBook gets deleted or misplaced, you can download it again.
If you have any questions about libraries, Smashwords or heck, anything else, I am always here for you. (big hugs)
***
Subscribe To My Monthly Newsletter: http://tasteofcyn.com/2014/05/28/newsletter/
Other Chameles view him as the enemy.
She sees the warrior hero he never believed he could be.
* * *
Tolui is a Warlord in search of a planet to rule. He has been leading his fellow clones in a stealth battle, fighting for both control of the Chamele sector and the right to exist. The brave warriors he commands warrant respect, and they deserve the best.
That best isn’t the barren, dangerous terrain on Chamele 4. When Tolui crashes on that planet’s surface, he’s determined to leave it as soon as possible. The tiny human female rescuing him might be as beautiful and as wild as the land she inhabits, but her flowing words, trusting gaze, and enthralling submission won’t stop him from rejoining the war.
After many solar cycles of living alone, Lea is overjoyed when a tall, scarred, muscular warrior falls from the sky. Her savage stranger is strong and severe, and he makes her feel safe, an emotion she hasn’t experienced in a long, long time.
He also insists they must part. Before they do, she’ll show him the splendor of her home, and she’ll enjoy his big form, collecting passionate moments she can revisit when she’s solitary once more.
Every additional moment Lea and Tolui spend together increases the chance they’ll both die. Lea is being chased by female-hating fiends. Tolui is being hunted by the best bounty hunters in the universe. War will soon arrive on their threshold, and the blood spilled might be their own.
* * *
Warlord’s Mercy is based on a much shorter story sharing the same title.
It is a STANDALONE Alien Barbarian SciFi Romance featuring a villain turned hero and a brave, chatty heroine set in a dark, gritty, sometimes-violent universe.
Warlord’s Mercy is the fifth of six core stories in the Chamele Barbarian Warlord series.
Book 1: Warlord Sky
Book 2: Warlord’s Bounty
Book 3: Warlord Unarmed
Book 4: Warlord Reunited
Book 5: Warlord’s Mercy
Book 6: Warlord’s Return
Buy Now:
Amazon US:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0886K65F9
Amazon UK:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0886K65F9
Amazon AUS:
https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0886K65F9
Apple Books:
https://books.apple.com/us/book/warlords-mercy/id1511995733
B&N:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/warlords-mercy-cynthia-sax/1116524052
Kobo:
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/warlord-s-mercy-1
SmashWords:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1020349
Topics: Sales On Cynthia Sax Books | Comments Off on KU, Libraries, Smashwords And Sales
Leather – The Universe’s Default Material
A reading buddy commented on how many of my warriors wear leather. Aren’t there other materials in the universe to craft garments from?
That’s a great question…and one that I’ve put quite a bit of thought into (as I put thought into every other small detail, which is why it takes me so fraggin’ long to write a story – grins).
What is leather?
According to Dictionary.com , leather is “the skin of an animal, with the hair removed, prepared for use by tanning or a similar process designed to preserve it against decay and make it pliable or supple when dry.”
The animal doesn’t have to be Earth-based. The animal doesn’t have to look like a cow. A rat is an animal. Rats tend to be everywhere and I suspect they have been making other planets their home also.
As long as a human or humanoid is on the planet, beings can obtain leather.
Because humans and humanoids are animals too.
Yes. That is unnerving but it IS possible and it is likely. Which is why I rarely say what type of leather was used for the garments (that and this detail isn’t usually important to the story).
Any being anywhere has access to leather.
If the being has access to better materials for garments, of course, they will use those other materials. The cyborgs don’t wear leather because they have access to body armor made from stronger, more protective, synthetically created materials.
The princess heroine in Testing Truth doesn’t wear leather because she is a princess, has a gazillion credits and can source the best and often the most beautiful materials in the universe.
The Humanoid Alliance baddies don’t wear leather either. Again, like the cyborgs, they have access to different materials, materials they deem as being ‘better.’
The Chameles, however, are an insular species. They don’t trade with other planets. They rarely allow ships from other sectors into their sector.
They would source almost everything from their own planets and they have plenty of leather on those planets. The Chameles can create leather from the unees, the rock vultures, other animals. And they wouldn’t waste that material.
Plus they revel in their rather primitive origins. Leather has been part of their history, part of their warrior culture for many generations and it suits them. It holds emotional significance for them, is a link to their past.
Many of the beings on Carinae E wear leather also. Carinae E, the home of Kralj from Dark Thoughts, isn’t rich in natural materials. They don’t have teams of scientists to create synthetic alternatives.
The locals don’t trade much with the rest of the universe. Beings avoid Carinae E if they possibly can. It is a wild, lawless, brutal place. No merchants are making pleasure stops there…unless they want to be robbed.
But Carinae E DOES have animals. Many of those animals walk on two legs. So the locals DO have access to leather.
I see you grimacing but did you truly believe Kralj, a male who EATS his enemies, wears a coat made from ethically-sourced bovine leather?
Yes, my less credit-heavy, outlaw warriors tend to wear leather.
The question you might (or might not) wish to ask is—what TYPE of leather are they wearing?
***
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Other Chameles view him as the enemy.
She sees the warrior hero he never believed he could be.
* * *
Tolui is a Warlord in search of a planet to rule. He has been leading his fellow clones in a stealth battle, fighting for both control of the Chamele sector and the right to exist. The brave warriors he commands warrant respect, and they deserve the best.
That best isn’t the barren, dangerous terrain on Chamele 4. When Tolui crashes on that planet’s surface, he’s determined to leave it as soon as possible. The tiny human female rescuing him might be as beautiful and as wild as the land she inhabits, but her flowing words, trusting gaze, and enthralling submission won’t stop him from rejoining the war.
After many solar cycles of living alone, Lea is overjoyed when a tall, scarred, muscular warrior falls from the sky. Her savage stranger is strong and severe, and he makes her feel safe, an emotion she hasn’t experienced in a long, long time.
He also insists they must part. Before they do, she’ll show him the splendor of her home, and she’ll enjoy his big form, collecting passionate moments she can revisit when she’s solitary once more.
Every additional moment Lea and Tolui spend together increases the chance they’ll both die. Lea is being chased by female-hating fiends. Tolui is being hunted by the best bounty hunters in the universe. War will soon arrive on their threshold, and the blood spilled might be their own.
* * *
Warlord’s Mercy is based on a much shorter story sharing the same title.
It is a STANDALONE Alien Barbarian SciFi Romance featuring a villain turned hero and a brave, chatty heroine set in a dark, gritty, sometimes-violent universe.
Warlord’s Mercy is the fifth of six core stories in the Chamele Barbarian Warlord series.
Book 1: Warlord Sky
Book 2: Warlord’s Bounty
Book 3: Warlord Unarmed
Book 4: Warlord Reunited
Book 5: Warlord’s Mercy
Book 6: Warlord’s Return
Buy Now:
Amazon US:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0886K65F9
Amazon UK:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0886K65F9
Amazon AUS:
https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0886K65F9
Apple Books:
https://books.apple.com/us/book/warlords-mercy/id1511995733
B&N:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/warlords-mercy-cynthia-sax/1116524052
Kobo:
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/warlord-s-mercy-1
SmashWords:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1020349
Topics: General SciFi Romance | Comments Off on Leather – The Universe’s Default Material
Canadian Alien Encounters
Happy Canada Day to my Canadian reading and writing buddies! (tackle hugs) Celebrate safely, my friends.
One of the Canadian traditions on Canada Day is to head to the cottage (or camp for fans of tents) and spend some time usually close to a lake.
9% of Canada is covered by freshwater. We have approximately 31,752 lakes larger than 3 square kilometres. We’re often always close to a lake or river or some other body of water (the Prairies are an exception to this).
At the cottage or camp, we’re far away from artificial light sources, which means there is little light pollution and the night sky is extremely dark. This is perfect for looking at the stars or the Northern Lights (aurora borealis) … or alien spaceships.
Canada has a long history of being visited by aliens. It seems to be a favorite destination for beings off planet.
In 2017, there were 1,101 official UFO sightings, an average of 3 a day. And those are official sightings. I know many people who have seen ‘things’ and they didn’t tell anyone other than friends or family.
When I was in high school, I lived close to Moonbeam, a small town in Northern Ontario/Canada. There is a large flying saucer displayed in that tiny town for a reason—the town is often a stop for UFOs.
Early settlers called the strange ‘lights’ in the sky ‘moonbeams’, which is how the town got its name. These intergalactic visitors often leave o-rings in the forest. These are similar to crop circles except amidst the huge fir trees. I’ve seen these and, being a niece of loggers, I know how much force it must have taken to flatten those trees.
I suspect Canadians won’t be alone this Canada Day and, as an alien romance writer, I find that inspiring.
***
Subscribe To My Monthly Newsletter: http://tasteofcyn.com/2014/05/28/newsletter/
Other Chameles view him as the enemy.
She sees the warrior hero he never believed he could be.
* * *
Tolui is a Warlord in search of a planet to rule. He has been leading his fellow clones in a stealth battle, fighting for both control of the Chamele sector and the right to exist. The brave warriors he commands warrant respect, and they deserve the best.
That best isn’t the barren, dangerous terrain on Chamele 4. When Tolui crashes on that planet’s surface, he’s determined to leave it as soon as possible. The tiny human female rescuing him might be as beautiful and as wild as the land she inhabits, but her flowing words, trusting gaze, and enthralling submission won’t stop him from rejoining the war.
After many solar cycles of living alone, Lea is overjoyed when a tall, scarred, muscular warrior falls from the sky. Her savage stranger is strong and severe, and he makes her feel safe, an emotion she hasn’t experienced in a long, long time.
He also insists they must part. Before they do, she’ll show him the splendor of her home, and she’ll enjoy his big form, collecting passionate moments she can revisit when she’s solitary once more.
Every additional moment Lea and Tolui spend together increases the chance they’ll both die. Lea is being chased by female-hating fiends. Tolui is being hunted by the best bounty hunters in the universe. War will soon arrive on their threshold, and the blood spilled might be their own.
* * *
Warlord’s Mercy is based on a much shorter story sharing the same title.
It is a STANDALONE Alien Barbarian SciFi Romance featuring a villain turned hero and a brave, chatty heroine set in a dark, gritty, sometimes-violent universe.
Warlord’s Mercy is the fifth of six core stories in the Chamele Barbarian Warlord series.
Book 1: Warlord Sky
Book 2: Warlord’s Bounty
Book 3: Warlord Unarmed
Book 4: Warlord Reunited
Book 5: Warlord’s Mercy
Book 6: Warlord’s Return
Buy Now:
Amazon US:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0886K65F9
Amazon UK:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0886K65F9
Amazon AUS:
https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0886K65F9
Apple Books:
https://books.apple.com/us/book/warlords-mercy/id1511995733
B&N:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/warlords-mercy-cynthia-sax/1116524052
Kobo:
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/warlord-s-mercy-1
SmashWords:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1020349
Topics: Guest Post | Comments Off on Canadian Alien Encounters
Tolkien And Supporting Writers
I resisted watching the movie Tolkien until yesterday.
Why?
1. I didn’t know it was an absolutely wonderful romance and the romance (with a happy ever after) is the heart of the movie.
and
2. Many movies about writers get this wonderful career so very wrong. They give us what non-writers think writers do and that can be frustrating to watch.
I was a dumb a$$. Tolkien is a wonderful film. I smiled. I cried. I highly recommend it, especially to other writers and people who love writers.
One of the things I absolutely LOVED about the movie was it shows how one person emotionally supported her writer.
Edith, Tolkien’s love interest, gives him a safe place to talk about his stories. She supplies him with story prompts, often starting the story for him. She is super okay when he takes the story in his own direction. She pushes back when she thinks he isn’t reaching deep enough (the discussion about language being important because it has meaning). She points out when he’s being Mr. Grumpy Pants and not writing the stories inside him (Oh boy, did I feel that one! The Dear Wonderful Hubby often has to push me into the writing cave as I become very grumpy when I’m not writing.).
This relationship isn’t without errors and mistakes ARE made. But Tolkien is articulate about his feelings and he points out when he doesn’t like the way she supports him. For example, Edith tells him to tell her a story and he gets huffy, replying he can’t perform on demand. She then switches to another tactic. She starts the story for him and he takes over that story, makes it his own. THAT works for them.
The movie shows that a supporter can be an important, often essential part of a writer’s team. Would Tolkien have become a great writer without Edith? I don’t know. I DO know his stories would have been extremely different.
The Dear Wonderful Hubby and I have a very similar Supporter-Writer relationship. He is the person I tell ALL my story ideas too. When I have story issues, he’ll suggest different solutions and that usually allows me to find my own solution. And he’s okay with that. He knows simply by listening, he’s being a valuable part of the writing team.
But our relationship was and still is a work-in-progress. He tries different tactics to support me. I tell him what works for me and what doesn’t and he adjusts his ‘tool box’ accordingly. Well over two decades of trial and error later, he is skilled at supporting me. I don’t know what I’d do without him. The Dear Wonderful Hubby is now a key part of my writing process.
Do you need a supporter like the Dear Wonderful Hubby or Edith to become a great writer? Of course not. You can write awesome stories on your own. But if you have someone who is willing to take on that role, it might be worth the training and the mistakes to nurture them.
***
Subscribe To My Monthly Newsletter: http://tasteofcyn.com/2014/05/28/newsletter/
Other Chameles view him as the enemy.
She sees the warrior hero he never believed he could be.
* * *
Tolui is a Warlord in search of a planet to rule. He has been leading his fellow clones in a stealth battle, fighting for both control of the Chamele sector and the right to exist. The brave warriors he commands warrant respect, and they deserve the best.
That best isn’t the barren, dangerous terrain on Chamele 4. When Tolui crashes on that planet’s surface, he’s determined to leave it as soon as possible. The tiny human female rescuing him might be as beautiful and as wild as the land she inhabits, but her flowing words, trusting gaze, and enthralling submission won’t stop him from rejoining the war.
After many solar cycles of living alone, Lea is overjoyed when a tall, scarred, muscular warrior falls from the sky. Her savage stranger is strong and severe, and he makes her feel safe, an emotion she hasn’t experienced in a long, long time.
He also insists they must part. Before they do, she’ll show him the splendor of her home, and she’ll enjoy his big form, collecting passionate moments she can revisit when she’s solitary once more.
Every additional moment Lea and Tolui spend together increases the chance they’ll both die. Lea is being chased by female-hating fiends. Tolui is being hunted by the best bounty hunters in the universe. War will soon arrive on their threshold, and the blood spilled might be their own.
* * *
Warlord’s Mercy is based on a much shorter story sharing the same title.
It is a STANDALONE Alien Barbarian SciFi Romance featuring a villain turned hero and a brave, chatty heroine set in a dark, gritty, sometimes-violent universe.
Warlord’s Mercy is the fifth of six core stories in the Chamele Barbarian Warlord series.
Book 1: Warlord Sky
Book 2: Warlord’s Bounty
Book 3: Warlord Unarmed
Book 4: Warlord Reunited
Book 5: Warlord’s Mercy
Book 6: Warlord’s Return
Buy Now:
Amazon US:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0886K65F9
Amazon UK:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0886K65F9
Amazon AUS:
https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0886K65F9
Apple Books:
https://books.apple.com/us/book/warlords-mercy/id1511995733
B&N:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/warlords-mercy-cynthia-sax/1116524052
Kobo:
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/warlord-s-mercy-1
SmashWords:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1020349
Topics: Movie Reviews, Writing Tips | Comments Off on Tolkien And Supporting Writers
